Chief secretary Utpal Singh addressed the officers concerned about the facilities to be provided to the pilgrims on Char Dham Yatra which would begin soon through a video conferencing in New Tehri on Tuesday.
He talked about basic infrastructure like road, water and toilets and stressed that all such arrangements must be put into place well before the Char Dham Yatra starts. He also said that security must be stepped up as lakhs of people from across the country are expected to embark on the pilgrimage. “Parapets, cross barriers and signboards in the marked sensitive places must be set up as part of the preparation of the pilgrimage,” he said.
CS said that the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri would reopen on April 28 while the same would reopen for Kedarnath on April 29, for Badrinath on April 30 and for Hemkund Sahib on May 25 .
Tehri district magistrate Sonika said that a budget worth Rs 21 lakh has been cleared to provide the basic facilities to the visitors for ‘lamgaun’ Chamiyala and Ghansali.
“Besides, we have instructed the chief medical officer to set up primary health centres equipped with all the medical and other facilities, including ambulance service, along the pilgrimage routes,” she said.
This aside, instructions have been given to the officers concerned to put up sign boards and cross barriers at the sensitive areas along the route well before April 10.
Environment department has been instructed to make all the necessary arrangements in conjunction with the telecom, supply and other departments and the Nagar Palika to keep all the services updated so that traveller faces no discomfort, an officer said.